Self-locking hinge



Dec. 7, 1965 w. E. MILLER 3,221,805

SELFLOCKING HINGE Filed July 22, 196s fAWZr: J- 34 57 sa 10 f3?) )35 (522 fi/2330 mum/6MM @nerr .A1/44e@ Ivre/wrap.

United States Patent O 3,221,805 SELF-LOCKING HINGE Wellington EverettMiiler, Garden Grove, Calif., assigner to Penberhy Lumber Company, LosAngeles, Calif., a corporation of California Fiied July 22, 1963, Ser.No. 296,551 4 Ciaims. (Cl. 16B-229) The present invention relates ingeneral to hinge means for hingedly connectible members and, moreparticularly, to a self-locking hinge assembly comprising at least twohinges having hinge pins which are normally axially aligned to provide acommon hinge axis, but which may be misaligned to prevent any hingingaction about such hinge axis, the provision of such a self-locking hingeassembly being a primary object of the invention.

A more specific and important object of the invention is to provide aself-locking hinge assembly for a pair of hingedly connectible memberscomprising: at least two spaced hinges each including hinge elementsrespectively connectible to the hingedly connectible members; each ofthe hinges including a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting the hingeelements thereof; the hinge pins normally being axially aligned toprovide the hinges with a common hinge aids about which the hingeelements of the hinges may pivot between open and closed positions; oneof the hinges including bearing elements respectively connected to thehinge elements thereof and providing a locking axis which isperpendicular to the hinge axis and about which said one hinge ispivotable, when the hinge elements of said one hinge are in their closedpositions, to misalign the hinge pins; thereby preventing relativepivotal movement of the hingedly connectible members when they areconnected to the hinges; and locking means connected to one of thebearing elements for pivoting said one hinge about the locking axis intoa position to misalign the hinge pins.

With the foregoing construction, the desired locking action is achievedby pivoting only one of the hinges of the assembly or set into amisaligned position about a locking axis perpendicular to the commonhinge axis. However, all of the hinges of the set may be made pivotableinto misaligned positions. With such a construction, each hinge would bepivotable about its own locking axis perpendicular to the common hingeaxis and all of the locking axes would be parallel.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein at least one bearingelement of each misalignable hinge is a shaft pivotable about thecorresponding locking axis, the locking means being connected to suchshaft and comprising a locking lever, or other means for pivoting theshaft about its locking axis.

Another object is to provide a hinge assembly wherein each hingeincludes joint breaking means for biasing the hinge elements of suchhinge toward their open positions. More particularly, an object in thisconnection is to provide a misalignable hinge provided with bearingelements which are pivotable about a locking axis and at least one ofwhich is a tubular shaft connected to one of the hinge elements of suchhinge and containing a joint breaking pin engageable with the otherhinge element to bias the hinge elements toward their open positionswhen they are in their closed positions, the tubular shaft containingspring means for biasing the joint breaking pin into engagement with thehinge element on which it acts.

The present invention may be applied to various hingedly connectiblemembers, such as an ordinary door and door jamb, or the like. However,the invention finds particular utility in keeping a folding panelassembly at when such assembly is extended, and will be considered insuch connection hereinafter for convenience. It will Patented Dec. 7,1965 be understood that the invention is applicable to various types offolding panel assemblies, such as folding shutters, folding roomdividers, and the like. Sucha folding panel assembly may include two ormore folding panels.

An important object of the invention in connection with a folding panelassembly is to hingedly interconnect the panels and a supportingstructure, such as a jamb, by means of two spaced, parallel hingeassemblies which traverse the desired hinge axes of the panel assemblyand at least one of which includes: a series of shafts axially alignabiealong a locking axis perpendicular to the hinge axes; a series of hingesrespectively pivotally interconnecting adjacent ends of the shafts andrespectively having hinge pins lying on the hinge axes; the hingesrespectively including hinge elements pivotable from open positions toclosed positions to axially align the shafts along the locking axis; anda locking lever connected to an end shaft of the series for pivoting theseries of shafts and hinges about the locking axis when the shafts areaxially aligned therealong. With this construction, the hinge pins ofthe pivotable series of hinges are angularly displaced relative to thehinge axes to prevent hinging of the panels of the panel assemblyrelative to each other and relative to the panel-assembly jamb, or otherpanel-assembly supporting structure.

Another object is to provide the panel assembly with two series ofmisalignable hinges to better hold the panel assembly flat whenextended.

Another object is to provide a self-locking hinge assembly, comprising aseries of misalignable hinges, wherein alternate ones of the hinge pinsare laterally offset to opposite sides of the corresponding lockingaxis. With this construction, the panels of a folding panel assemblywith which the self-locking hinge assembly is used are brought intoedge-abutting relation with each other, and with the panel-assemblyjamb, when the panel assembly is extended.

Another object of the invention in the foregoing connection is toprovide a self-locking assembly, comprising a series of misalignablehinges, which may be oriented in either of two positions angularlyspaced 180 apart, thereby reversing the lateral offsets of therespective hinge pins from the corresponding locking axis. With thisconstruction, the invention may be utilized to cause the joints of afolding panel assembly to break either way.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein the hinges forming aparticular hinge axis may be rotated through angles of into positionssuch that the hinge pins thereof are all parallel and extend in the samedirection, thereby permitting ready separation of the hinge elementsthereof in a manner to be explained in more detail hereinafter. Thisconstruction permits easy assembly and disassembly of folding panelstructures, for example.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the presentinvention, together with various other objects, advantages, features andresults thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the hinge artin the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplaryembodiments of the invention described in detail hereinafter andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational view showing, on a reduced scale, anillustrative application of two self-locking hinge series -of theinvention to an exemplary folding panel assembly;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View showing two self-locking hingeseries of the invention in locked positions, i.e., with the hinge pinsof the corresponding hinges in the two series misaligned;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the arrowed line 3 3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the two hinge series inunlocked positions, i.e., showing the hinge pins of corresponding hingesaligned, and showing the hinges in partially open positions;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the arrowed line 5 5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view througha self-locking hinge series of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an alternativeself-locking hinge of the invention.

Referring to FIG. l of the drawing, illustrated therein for the purposeof disclosing one application of the invention is a fol-ding shutterassembly 16 set in a window opening 12. In the particular constructionshown, the folding shutter assembly includes a jamb 22 and threefoldable shutter panels 24, 26 and 28. The j arnb 22 and the panels 24,26 and 28 are interconnected for folding movement of the panels relativeto the jamb, about parallel hinge axes, -by two spaced, parallel,self-locking hinge assemblies or series 30 and 30a of the invention, thetwo hinge series traversing the folding panel assembly 19 adjacent theupper and lower edges thereof in the particular constructionillustrated.

More particularly, the panel 24 is pivotally connected to the jamb 22 byhinges 33 and 33a, the panel 26 is pivotally connected to the panel 24by hinges 35 and 35a, and the panel 28 is pivotally connected to thepanel 26 by hinges 37 and 37a,

When the folding panel assembly 10 is extended so that it is in aattened condition, the various components of each hinge series 30 and30a are all axially aligned, as suggested in FIG. 2 of the drawings, andare pivotable relative to the flattened panel assembly about thelongitudinal axis thereof, the longitudinal axes of the hinge series 30and 30a, when in their straightened positions, being referred tohereinafter as their locking axes. Pivotal movement of the straightenedhinge series 30 and 30a about their locking axes is permitted by bearingelements 32 and 32a journalled in the jamb 22, bearing elements 34 and34a journalled in the panel 24, bearing elements 36 and 36a'journalledin the panel 26, and bearing elements 38 and 38a joumalled in the panel28.-

The bearing elements 32 and 32a are -connected to the hinges 33 and 33a,respectively, and are preferably stub shafts suitably journalled in thejamb 22, as suggested in FIG. 6, in a manner to prevent axial withdrawalfrom the jamb. In other words, the stub shafts 32 and 32a are journalledin and suitably keyed to bearings carried by the jamb 22, again assuggested in FIG. 6, so that they support the other components of thehinge series 30 and 30a and the panels 24, 26 and 28 `carried thereby.Any suitable keyed bearing construction, or other means of mounting thehinge series 30 and 30a on the jamb 22 for pivotal movement about theirlocking axes, may be utilized. Consequently, a further descriptionherein is not believed to be necessary.

The bearing element 34 is rigidly connected at its ends to the hinges 33and 35, the bearing element 34a is rigidly connected at its ends to thehinges 33a and 35a, the bearing element 36 is rigidly connected at itsends to the hinges 3S and 37, the bearing element 36a is rigidlyconnected at its ends to the hinges 35a and 37a, the bearing element 38is rigidly connected at its ends to the hinge 37 and a locking means 39,and the bearing element 38a is rigidly connected at its ends to thehinge 37a and a locking means 39a.

The bearing elements 34, 34a, 36, 36a, 38 and 38a are all tubular shaftsfor a reason to be explained hereinafter, These tubular shafts may besuitably journalled in the corresponding panels, as by being disposed ingrooves therein. For example, the panel 26 is shown as having a groove27a for the tubular shaft 36a. The latter may be heldin its groove inany suitable manner, as by a filler strip, not shown.

In the embodiment under consideration, the locking means 39 and 39a areshown as located at the leading edge of the leading panel 28, andinclude locking levers 40 and 40a for pivoting the hinge series 30 and30a about their locking axes, when the hinge series are straightened,between locked and unlocked positions, as will be discussed in moredetail hereinafter. However, the locking means may also be secured tothe stub shafts 32 and 32a. As suggested in FIG. 1, the locking levers40 and 40a are engageable with the front surface of the panel 28 in thelocked and unlocked positions of the hinge series 36 and 30a, therebypreventing pivotal movement of these hinge series beyond their lockedand unlocked positions. The reason for this will be explainedhereinafter.

Each of the various hinges 33, 33a, 35, 35a, 37 and 37a includes twohinge elements each rigidly connected to the adjacent one of the shafts32, 32a, 34, 34a, 36, 36a, 38 and 38a. For example, FIG. 6 shows thehinge 37 las including hinge elements 41 and 42 respectively rigidlyconnected, as by welding, or otherwise, to the adjacent ends of theshafts 36 and 38. The various other shaft-to-hinge connections aresimilar so that a `detailed description is not necessary. The lockingmeans 39 and 39a are respectively rigidly, but removably, connected tothe outer ends of the shafts 38 and 38a in any suitabletorque-transmitting manner. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the outerend 61 of the shaft 38 is illustrated as hexagonal and as tting into acomplementary socket in the locking means 39, the latter being retainedby a screw 43. A similar locking-means-to-shaft connection may beutilized between the locking means 39a and the shaft 38a.

Each of the various hinges 33, 33a, 35, 35a, 37 and 37a includes, inaddition to the two hinge elements hereinbefore discussed, a hinge pinpivotally interconnecting such hinge elements for relative movementybetween rst Iand second positions. (With the particular hingeconstruction shown, these rst and second positions are convenientlydesignated as open and closed positions, but merely for referencepurposes.) FIG. 3 shows the hinge 37 as including a hingle pin 44rigidly connected to the hinge element 41 and withdrawably extendinginto a hinge pin opening 45 in the hinge element 42. FIG. 3 also showsthe corresponding components of the hinge 37a, these being identified byreference characters differing by the addition of the suffix a.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing, when it is desired to extendor retract the folding panel assembly 1t), the locking levers 4t). yarein positions such that the axes of the hinge pins 44 and 44a of thehinges 37 and 37a are aligned, the same being true of the axes of thehinge pins of the hinges 35 and 35a, and of the axes of the hinge pinsof the hinges 33 and 33a. The common hinge axis of the hinges 37 and 37ais designated in FIGS. 4 and 5 by the broken line 37b, and the commonhinge :axis of the hinges 35 and 35a is indicated in FIG. 4 by thebroken line 35h. (The common hinge axis for the hinges 33 and 33a is notspecifically shown.)

Thus, under the foregoing conditions, the panels 24, 26 and 28 are freeto be folded into their retracted positions, or unfolded into theirextended positions. As suggested in FIG. 4, alternate ones ofthe commonhinge axes of the hinge pairs 33-33a, 35-35a and 37-37a are laterallyoffset to opposite sides of the locking axes of the hinge series 30 and30a, these common hinge axes all being perpendicular to the lockingaxes. More particularly, as best shown in FIG. 5, the common hinge axis37b is offset to one side of the locking axes. The common hinge axis35b, FIG. 4, is offset to the opposite side thereof, and the commonhinge axis of the hinges 33 and a is offset to the same side as thecommon hinge axis 37b. Laterally offsetting alternate ones of the commonhinge axes to opposite sides of the locking axes in this manner providesfor positioning the panels 24, 26 1and 28 in edge abutting relation whenthe folding panel assembly is extended.

An important feature of the present invention in connection with theforegoing alternate lateral offset is that it may be reversed merely byangularly displacing the two hinge series 30 and 39a through angles of180 from the positions shown. This may be accomplished readily byremoving the two locking means 39 and 39a, rotating the two hinge series30 and 30a through 180, and replacing the two locking means. Thus, thepresent invention provides for folding of the panels 24, 26 and 28 inopposite directions. The particular direction of folding may be selectedat the time of installation, or it may later be reversed.

When it is desired to lock the folding panel assembly 10 at in itsextended position, this can be done very sirnply by pivoting the hingeseries 30 and 30a about their locking axes into the positions shown inFIGS. 2 `and 3 of the drawing. Under these conditions, the hinge pins ofeach pair of hinges are misaligned, as illustrated by the misalignedhinge pins 44 and 44a in FIG. 3. Consequently, the hinges 33, 33a, 35,35a, 37 and 37a cannot break, with the result that the hinge series 3ftand 36a are positively locked in their straightened conditions, topositively hold the extended panel assemblylt) perfectly flat, which isan important feature of the invention. In pivoting the hinge series 39and 30a into their locked positions, they are preferably pivoted throughsubstantial angles for best results. However, for a reason which will beexplained hereinafter, these anglesv are preferably limited to less than90 by engagement of the locking levers 40 and 49a with the front surfaceof the panel 28.

It will be understood that while both hinge series 3G and 30a have beenshown as pivotable into locking positions, a similar effect may beachieved by making only one of the hinge series, e.g., the series 30,pivotable in this. fashion. In such event, individual hinges, not shown,might be substituted for the interconnected hinges 33a, 35a and 37a.Preferably, however, both of the hinge series 30 and 30a are pivotableinto locked positions to better hold the panel assembly 10 at in itsextended position.

While separately operable locking levers 40 and 49a have been shown, itwill be understood that they may be suitably interconnected to providefor simultaneous pivoting of the hinge series 30 and 30a between theirlocked and unlocked positions.

Considering another feature of the present invention, when the two hingeseries 3i) and 30a are in their unlocked positions, the aligned hingepins of each pair face in opposite directions. This is shown in FIG. 5in connection with the hinge pins 44 .and 44a. As will be apparent,since the hinge pins 44 .and 44a extend in opposite directions, theycannot be withdrawn from their respective hinge pin openings 45 and 45a.More particularly, keeping in mind that the two hinge series 36 and 30aare maintained a iixed distance apart by the panels 24, 26 and 28, itwill be apparent that as long as the hinge pins. 44 and 4a extend inopposite directions the hinge elements 41 and 41a cannot be -movedrelative to the hinge elements 42 and 42a to withdraw the hinge pins 44and 44a from their openings 45 and 45a (nor can the hinge elements 42and 42a be moved relative to the hinge elements 41 and 41a to effectsuch withdrawals).

However, by removing the two locking means 39 and 39a to prevent thelocking levers 40 and 40a from engaging the front surface of the panel2S and thus acting as stops, the hinges 37 and 37a can be rotated beyondtheir locked positions, in the directions indicated by the arrows inFIG. 3, into positions wherein the hinge pins 44 and 44a extend in thesame direction and are parallel. As will be apparent, it is necessary topivot the two hinge series 90, in opposite directions, from theirunlocked positions to achieve this. Now, the hinge elements 41 and 41acan be separated laterally from the hinge elements 42 and 42a merely bywithdrawing the hinge pins 6 44 and 44a from the respective hinge pinopenings 45 and 45a, thereby separating the panel 28 from the panel 26.This provides a very simple way of assembling and disassembling thepanels, which is an important feature.

Another feature of the present invention is that it includes jointbreaking means for biasing the hinge elements of the respective hingestoward their open positions. With this construction, when the two hingeseries 30 and 30a are pivoted into their unlocked positions, the jointbreaking means mentioned break the hinged joints between the jamb 22 andthe various panels 24, 26 and 28 to facilitate folding of the panelassembly 10. There is a joint breaking means associated with each of thehinges 33, 33a, 35, 35a, 37 and 37a and disposed in the correspondingone of the tubular shafts 34, 34a, 36, 36a, 38 and 38a respectively.

The joint breaking means associated with the hinge 37 and disposed inthe corresponding tubular shaft 33 is designated in FIG. 6 of thedrawing by the numeral 50 and is illustrative of the joint breakingmeans associated with the other hinges and disposed in the correspondingother tubular shafts. The joint breaking means 5t) includes a jointbreaking pin 51 axially reciprocable in the tubular shaft 38 andextending through an opening 49 in the hinge element 42 into engagementwith the hinge element 41. A compression spring 52 coiled around the pin51, and seated against a collar 53 on the pin 51, biases the pin intoengagement with the hinge element 41 to bias this hinge element towardits open position relative to the hinge element 42. Consequently,whenever the hinge series 30 and 30a are in their unlocked positions,the spring 52 causes the pin 51 to break the joint between the panels 26and 28 Which is represented by the hinge 37.

The particular configuration shown for the hinges 33, 33a, 35, 35a, 37and 37a is dictated by functional and appearance considerations for theparticular environment in which they are used. In other Words, theconfiguration of these hinges, in the environment illustrated, isselected to provide a desirable appearance, and to permit recessing thehinges into the panel edges, as shown in FIG. 1.

However, various hinge configurations may be used within the scope ofthe invention. For example, FIG. 7 shows a hinge 60 comprising a hingepin 62 extending through collars 64, 66 and 68. The collars 64 and 68are shown as interconnected by a yoke 70 which, in turn, is connected toa shaft 72 perpendicular to the hinge axis. The collar 66 has connectedthereto a shaft 74 axially alignable with the shaft 72. When the shafts72 and 74 are axially aligned, they provide a locking axis perpendicularto the hinge axis, and, in this case, intersecting the hinge axis,rather than being laterally oset therefrom. As will be apparent, if thehinge 60 is utilized in connection with a similar hinge, not shown, ahinging action may be achieved as long as the hinge-pin axes arealigned. However, by rotating the shafts 72 and 74, when these shaftsare axially aligned, in the direction of the arrows, the axis of thehinge 60 may be misaligned with respect to the axis of the other hingewith which it is used. This provides a locking action similar to thathereinbefore disclosed.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosedherein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that variouschanges, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in suchembodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined by the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. In a self-locking hinge assembly for a pair of hingedly connectiblemembers, the combination of:

(a) two spaced hinges each including hinge elements respectivelyconnectible to the hingedly connectible members;

(b) each of said hinges including a hinge pin pivotally interconnectingsaid hinge elements thereof;

(c) said hinge pins normally being axially aligned to provide saidhinges with a common hinge axis about which said hinge elements of saidhinges may pivot between open and closed positions;

(d) one of said hinges including bearing elements respectively connectedto Vsaid hinge elements thereof;

(e) said bearing elements of said one hinge being axially aligned, whensaid hinge elements of said one hinge are in their closed positions, toprovide a locking axis which is perpendicular to said hinge axis andabout which said one hinge is pivotable to misalign said hinge pins;

(f) thereby preventing relative pivotal movement of the hingedlyconnectible members when they are connected to said hinges; and

(g) locking means for pivoting said one hinge about said locking axisinto a position to misalign said hinge pins.

2. In a self-locking hinge assembly for a pair of hingedly connectiblemembers, the combination of:

(a) two spaced hinges each including hinge elements respectivelyconnectible to the hingedly connectible members;

(b) each of said hinges including a hinge pin pivotally interconnectingsaid hinge elements thereof;

(c) said hinge pins normally being axially aligned to provide saidhinges with a common hinge axis about which said hinge elements of saidhinges may pivot between open and closed positions;

(d) one of said hinges including bearing elements respectively connectedto said hinge elements thereof;

(e) said bearing elements of said one hinge being axially aligned, whensaid hinge elements of said one hinge are in their closed positions, toprovide a locking axis which is perpendicular to said hinge axis andabout which said one hinge is pivotable, when said hinge elements ofsaid one hinge are in their closed positions, to misalign said hingepins;

(f) thereby preventing relative pivotal movement of the hingedlyconnectible members when they are connected to said hinges;

(g) one of said bearing elements being a tubular shaft connected to oneof said hinge elements of said one hinge;

(h) locking means connected to one of said bearing elements for pivotingsaid one hinge about said locking axis into a position to misalign saidhinge pins;

(i) a joint breaking pin in said shaft and engageable with the other ofsaid hinge elements of said one hinge to tend to pivot said hingeelements of said one hinge toward their open positions; and

(j) spring means in said shaft for biasing said joint breaking pin intoengagement with said other hinge element of said one hinge.

3. In a self-locking hinge assembly for a pair of hingedly connectiblemembers, the combination of:

(La) two spaced hinges each including two hinge elements respectivelyconnectible to the hingedly connectible members;

((1a) each of said hinges including a hinge pin pivotallyinterconnecting said hinge elements thereof;

(c) said hinge pins normally being axially aligned to provide saidhinges with a common hinge axis about which said hinge elements of saidhinges may pivot between open and closed positions;

(d) each of said hinges including two shafts which are connected to saidhinge elements thereof, respectively, and which are axially aligned whensaid hinge elements thereof are in their closed positions;

(e) said pairs of shafts respectively providing said hinges withparallel locking axes, when said hinge elements of said hinges are intheir closed positions, which are perpendicular to said hinge axis andabout which said hinges are pivotable to misalign said hinge pins;

(f) thereby preventing relative pivotal movement of the hingedlyconnectible members when they are connected to said hinges; and

(g) locking means connected to certain of said shafts for pivoting saidhinges about said locking axes into positions to misalign said hingepins.

4. A self-locking hinge assembly according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) each of said hinge pins is rigidly connected to one of said hingeelements of the corresponding hinge and removably extends into a hingepin opening in the other;

(b) said hinge pins face in opposite directions when they are axiallyaligned along said hinge axis so as to prevent removal thereof from saidhinge pin openings; and

(c) said hinges are pivotable about said locking axes in oppositedirections through angles of so that said hinge pins are parallel andface in the same direction to permit simultaneous withdrawal thereoffrom said hinge pin openings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 142,957 9/1873Spiegel 16--165 2,178,908 11/1939 Hudson 16--164 HARRISON R. MOSELEY,Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

1. IN A SELF-LOCKING HINGE ASSEMBLY FOR A PAIR OF HINGEDLY CONNECTIBLEMEMBERS, THE COMBINATION OF: (A) TWO SPACED HINGES EACH INCLUDING HINGEELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTIBLE TO THE HINGEDLY CONNECTIBLE MEMBERS;(B) EACH OF SAID HINGES INCLUDING A HINGE PIN PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTINGSAID HINGE ELEMENTS THEREOF; (C) SAID HINGE PINS NORMALLY BEING AXIALLYALIGNED TO PROVIDE SAID HINGES WITH A COMMON HINGE AXIS ABOUT WHICH SAIDHINGE ELEMENTS OF SAID HINGES MAY PIVOT BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSEDPOSITIONS; (D) ONE OF SAID HINGES INCLUDING BEARING ELEMENTSRESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID HINGE ELEMENTS THEREOF; (E) SAID BEARINGELEMENTS OF SAID ONE HINGE BEING AXIALLY ALIGNED, WHEN SAID HINGEELEMENTS OF SAID ONE HINGE ARE IN THEIR CLOSED POSITIONS, TO PROVIDE ALOCKING AXIS WHICH IS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID HINGE AXIS AND ABOUT WHICHSAID ONE HINGE IS PIVOTABLE TO MISALIGN SAID HINGE PINS; (F) THEREBYPREVENTING RELATIVE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE HINGEDLY CONNECTIBLE MEMBERWHEN THEY ARE CONNECTED TO SAID HINGES; AND (G) LOCKING MEANS FORPIVOTING SAID ONE HINGE ABOUT SAID LOCKING AXIS INTO A POSITION TOMISALIGN SAID HINGE PINS.